James k



J. K. DELANO.

AUTOMATIC CUT-OUT APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

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J. K. DELANO.

AUTOMATIC CUT-OUT APPARATUS- APPLICATION men rmzs, 191s.

1371,99 Patent-M Mar. 15, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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, UNITED TES JAMES K. DELANO, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATIC CUT-OUT APPARATUS.

Application filed February 25, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Lines K. DELANO, a citizen of the United States, residing New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Cut-Out Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of'the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

"This invention relates to automatic cut out apparatus, and particularly to apparatus of this general character for employ ment-with internal combustion engines in which a dynamo electric machine is in driving connection with an internal combustion engine or other prime mover and is arranged to control and actuate through the rotation of its armature shaft means for opening and closing an electric circuit, such as an ignition or charging circuit, depending upon the diand breaking of a primary circuit induces high tension oscillations 111 a secondary circuit of such character as to furnish. suitable sparking current at, the spark plugs of the engine. Ordinarily a manually operated switch is provided to disconnect the ignition system frornthe battery when the vehicle s at rest, but if the operator neglects to so disconnect the ignition system, and if the engine happens to stop in such position that the contacts of the interrupter mechanism are in circuit-closing position, the battery may be discharged through the primary ignition circuit, thus wastin current and causing the battery to deteriorate. Again, where a storage battery forms a part of the equipment of a motor vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine or by a steam engine, the battery is usually arranged to be charged during the running of the vehicle by means of a suitable generator driven from the engine shaft. hen the vehicle stops, the battery mains would be short-circuited through the low resistance armature of the generator, unless switch means or a eut out Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

Serial No. 219,097.

device of some kind either manually or auto-- matically operable, were actuated to disconnect the generator from the battery. Unless the battery were thus disconnected from the generator when the vehicle is at rest, the battery would of course discharge through the generator, resulting not only in loss of current but also in damage both to the battery and the generator.

Automatic cut-out means for breaking ig nition circuits,fl'charging circuits, etc., in storage battery systems of the character mentioned, have been proposed heretofore and have gone into use to a certain extent. The principal object of the present invention is to provide improved and simplified means for accomplishing this general result, and also to provide an arrangement of which the operation is especially effective and dependable. Another object of the invention is to combine cut-out means of this general character with ignition mechanism in a compact unit adapted for connection to a driven shaft. Another object is to combine such cut-out means with a dynamo electric machine in a substantially unitary construction. A. still further object is to combine cut out means, ignition mechanism and a dynamo electric machine in a complete unit. y construction adapted for convenient drlving connection to the shaft of the internal combustion engine or other prime mover, the combination affording a very compact construction which has certain important practical advantages such as simplicity, convenience of installation, and durability. The dynamo electric machine may be either generator, or a dynamo motor.

In the present invention, which is more particularly adapted for use with an internal combustion engine, advantage is taken oi the fact that when a gas engine stops, its shaft rocks back more or 1 ss, usually to a position where the engine pistons are practically in line, this rocking back being due to the compression in the cylinders. In apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention, therefore, circuit-opening-andclosing mechanism is so mounted on a shaft which is adapted for driving connection directly or indirectly with the engine shaft, that upon rocking back of the engine after it stops, said mechanism is actuated by reverse rotation of its supporting shaft to place said mechanism in circuit-opening position or phase. On the other hand, when.

sequently rotating its normal direction,

said mechanism is circuit-closing po mechanism is at circuit which includ which is of such character that unless automatically opera kind were pro. upon stopping oi thereby mainta ed in turn or phase. Said l for connection in a t. b" c the circuit 4 the engine, it would be possible for th battery to discharge through the circuit. In one embodiment of the invention. the circuit openin and closing inechai'iism, or cut-out mechanism. is so associated structurally with a dynamo electric machine as to be housed therewith in a compact structural unit; and in an embodiment of the invention especially desirable where the cut-out mech: m controls an ignition circuit. the principal moving parts oi the ignition s m associated with the cut-outmechanlsm in a structural unit wnich is especially adapted for combination winamo ele :tric machine in a larger unit, but which ma be driven from the crank shaft or other moving part of the engine, where desir ble.

ll ith the foregoing general objects in view. as well as others which will appear hereinafter, the invention comprises both broadly and specifically the constructions shown in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the claims. It is to be understood, however. that the specific constructions here illustrated are. merely typical apparatus within the scope of the invention and embodyingits broad principles. and that the invention is not stricted thereto.

In the drawings. which are more or less diagrammatic.

Figure l is a sectional view of apparatus constructed in accordance with the intention, parts being shown in elevation;

2 is a fragmentary view in perspective on a larger scale furth r illustrating the slip ring arrangei'nent shown in 1;

Fig. 3 is a section. partly in elevation. of another form which the invention may take: and

Fig. l is a section on the line l4l of: Fig. 3.

Referring first to the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1. ind cates gieherally a dynamo electric. machine, in this instance a lighting generator. whose armature shaft 11 is geared through pinions 12 and 13. to the crank shaft H of an internal combustion engine, indicated generally at As is usual in installations of this character, the gearing between the engine and the generator is a speed multiplying connection. the pinion 13 having, for example, twice as many teeth as the pinion 12. and the armature shaft of the 'generator consequently having a rotaspeed twice as great as that of the shaft. The lighting generator is inin suitable housing shown, in the armature shaft is journaled at 16 T The armature shaft is extended at d the housing has a corresponding ex- ,n 18 to provide a inclosed space withwhich is mounted automatic cut-out This mechanism consists of ely moi ble contact members so 1 v as to make conducting contact durino normal rotation of the armature that is, while the engine is operating, 0 break such conducting contact upon the b L2 oi bushing 22 performing this n the particular con truction here Some means tor electrically the'gap between the two slip rings proper operating conditions is proi. and this means may take any conventerm. in the present instance, slip ring carries a projecting pin 24;, which, upon rotation of the armature shaft in the norn'ial operating direction, is adapted to en; "f a similar pin carried by a slip 20,, and thus to electrically connect said slip rin s. After pin 2-1 has thus made contact th pin 25. continued rotation of the rnuiture shaft causes slip ring to carry 1 ri along with it, the two slip rings u is rotating together with the shaft under real running conditions. Brushes 26 and ear on slip rings 19 and 20, respectively, together with the exterior terminals 28 d 29, adapt said slip rings for connection an electrical circuit. In the particular embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. i. such circuit includes a storage battery 30. connected on one side to brush 31 of the generator. and on the other to terminal 28, terminal 29 being connected to the other brush 32, as shown. lit 33 is indicated a re ulating winding of some kind for preing overcharging the battery at high er It may take the form of a bucking field winding in the generator. for example. A. lighting system 81. or other current-consuming device, may be supplied from the battery mains. Upon stopping of the engine. either accidentally or by the intention of the driver. the engine shaft will rock bacl: to a greater or less extent as before explained. and this reverse rotation of the crank shaft will be transmitted to the armature shaft 17, whereupon the slip ring 19, being compelled to rot-ate with the shaft,

participate in this reverse rotation.

-will also reverse its direction of rotation.

Slip ring20, on the other hand having no positive driving connection with the armature shaft and being restrained to some extent by the friction of brush 27,supplemented if desired-by the additional braking action of a spring-pressed brake member 36, will not As a consequence, contacts 24 and 25 will thereuponseparate and the battery circuit will be broken. I

Should the rocking back of the engine shaft be sufficient to produce reverse rotation of the armature shaft for a full revelution,,the pins 24 and 2-5 would again be brought into contact unless means were provided to prevent this. In the present example, restoration of the broken circuit in this manner is prevented by means of an insulated in 37 which is arranged to be engaged by pin 24 if the reverse rotation ,is sufficiently great, thus preventing the possibility ofthe circuit being closed except upon rotation of the armature shaft in the normal direction.

It will be noted that where there is a speed- .multiplyingdriving connection between the dynamo electr c machine and the engine crankshaft, as in thepresent instance, the rocking back of the engine shaft s, mult1- pled in the reverse rotation of the armature shaft, in this case doubled. The effect of this is to render the cut-out device much 1 more sensitive in its operation than it would be if it weremounted directly on the en- I .gine shaft.

In the apparatus of Figs. 3 and 4, the same general principles of operation are em- )lO GCl. but, inthis instance the cut-out .l .3

mechanism and the interrupting and distributing devices are mounted in a special housingloeated at one end of the dynamo electric machine. This arrangement is particularly advantageous for the reason, among others, that the necessary-connecting leads can be very materially shortened; while the structural combination ofthe several parts in a unitary device ofthis character greatly simplifies construction and makes for increased convenience in mounting the parts of the electrical system on a motor vehicle.

In this form of apparatus, an extension 89 of the housing of the dynamo electric machine accommodates the extension 40 of the armature shaft, to which is appropriately geared the vertical shaft 41, driving the cam42 of a timer or interrupter device, and

distributor arm 43,, both carried by the up 'per endof said shaft and inclosed in a suittion' with the apparatus of Fig. 1. In this instance the cut-out mechanism comprises a conducting pin 45 secured to rotate with the distributer shaft and to make contact with a conducting pin 46 carried by slip ring 47,.

said slip ring being loosely mounted upon the distributes? shaft 41 through the agency of an insulating bushing 48. A brush 49 bears upon the slip ring and has an exterior connecting terminal 50.

When the engine is running, the distributor shaft 41 is rotated in such direction that the contactpin 45 engages contact pin 46, the slip ring 47 being thereby caused to rotate with the distributer shaft. Under these conditions, the primary circuit of the ignition system is closed, assuming of course that the handjswitch 35 is closed, and the path of the current may be traced as follows: from the transformer primary to terminal :51, through interrupter contacts 52 a d pivoted interrupter arm 53 to terminal thence by way of terminal 00, slip ring 4. and contact pin 46, to contact pin 45, and finally to ground (generator frame) through distributer shaft 41 and, optionally, a spring pressed ground contact 55. The other side of the storage battery 56 is grounded to the frame of the dynamo electric machine as indicated at thus completing the circuit. The high tension current goes to the central terminal 58, from which it is distributed by rotating arm 43 to the several spark plugs through leads from terminals 59, with which terminals arm 43 makes contact successively as it rotates. hen the engine stops, the rocking back of the crank shaft will cause reverse rotation of the armature shaft 40, with correspondingreverse rotation of the distributor shaft 41. Pin 45 will accordingly be carried away from pin 46, since the slip ring 47 is loose on the distributor shaft and is frictionally held by the pressureof brush 49, or otherwise, from participating in the reverse rotation. The ignition circuit will, therefore, be broken. and the possibility the battery discharging through the closed interrupter contacts, should they happen to be left in this position when the engine stops, is thereby eliminated. If the rere rotation of shaft 41 is suilicientlv g at, the pin 45 strikes insulating pin 57, secured to slip ring 47 or to its insulating bushing; further movement of the pin in this direction compelling slip ring 47 to turn also, and closing of the circuit/by reverse rotation being thus prevented. The connection between the interrupter arm and cutout device is here shown as outside the housing, but it may of course be inside. Moreover the arrangement may be such that they are connected to opposite sides of the battery instead of as here shown. It is to be understood also that the housing means may provide separate chambers for the timing and distributing mechanism on the one hand and the cut-out mechanism on the other, instead of a single chamber, as in the construction of Fig. 3.

The battery circuit is here shown as provided with any usual or suitable cut-out device indicated conventionally at 60. It is obvious, however, that an additional rockback cut-out device, like either of those here inbefore described could be mounted upon or gearedto the armature shaft to take the place of cut-out 60.

lVhile the embodiments of the invention here illustrated show the employment of the cut-out mechanism with charging and ignition circuits, it is evident that the said mechanism may be used similarly in connection with any other circuit where there is any possibility that stopping of the prime mover may leave the circuit in condition for discharging the battery.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In apparatus of the class described,

the combination, with a prime mover, of a dynamo electric machine, a speed-multiplying drive connection between said dynamo and prime mover, a storage battery, and circuit opening and closing means structurally associated with said dynamo electric machine and in circuit with said battery and arranged to be actuated by said shaft to close or to open the circuit, depending upon the direction of shaft rotation.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a dynamo electric machine having an armature shaft adapted for driving connection to an internal combustion engine, of a housing, circuit opening and closing means mounted within said housing and arranged to be actuated by rotation of said shaft in one direction to maintain a circuit closed, and by reverse rotation of said shaft to open such circuit.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination, with a dynamo electric machine having an armature shaft adapted for driving connection to an internal combustion engine, of circuit opening and closing means structurally associated with said machine and arranged to be actuated by said shaft to close or to open a circuit, depending upon the direction of shaft rotation.

4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination, with a dynamo electric machine having a suitable armature shaft, of a contact device fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith, and a cooperating contact device mounted on said shaft and movable with respect to the first contact device, both contact devices being adapted for connection in an electric circuit, the arrangement being such that upon rotation of said shaft in one direction said contact devices are in circuitclosing position, but upon reverse rotation of mid shaft are in circuitcpening position.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination, with a dynamo electric mechine having a suitable armature shaft, of a pair of cooperating. contact members, of which one is positively driven by said shaft, while the other has a loose connection thereto, and means adapting said contact members for connection in an electric circuit, said members cooperating to close such circuit upon rotation of said shaft in one direction and to open said circuit upon reverse rotation of said shaft.

6. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a dynamo electric machine having an armature shaft adapted for driving connection to an internal combustion engine, of housing means into which said armature shaft extends, a circuit opening and closing device in said housing means connected to said shaft and controlled thereby. and a battery ignition circuit for the engine comprising interrupter mechanism, said opening and closing device being included in said circuit and being arranged for actuation by said armature shaft to maintain the circuit closed when the armature shaft is rotating in its normal direction. and to open said circuit upon reverse rotation of the shaft.

7. The combination, with a dynamo electric machine having an extended armature shaft and a suitable housing, of battery ignition mechanism supported by said housing and having a driving connection with said shaft and ignition cut-out means comprising a pair of relatively movable contact members in circuit with said ignition mecha nism and operable by rotation of said shaft to make or break the circuit depending upon the direction of shaft rotation.

8. In apparatus of the class described, the combination, with a rotatable shaft, of a contact device fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith, and a slip ring loosely mounted on said shaft and provided with contact means arranged to cooperate with said contact device in circuit-closing phase when said shaft rotates in one direction, and to separate from said contact device when said shaft rotates in the reverse direction, and a brush bearing on said slip ring to adapt the same for connect-ion in a circuit, said contact device being also adapted for connection in such circuit.

9. In apparatus of the class described, the combination, with a rotatable shaft, of a pair of slip ring, one fixed to said shaft and the other loose thereon, said slip rings being arranged to make conducting contact during rotation of said shaft in one direction, but to break such contact upon reversal of the shaft, and brushes bearing on said slip rings and adapted to connect the same in a circuit.

10. In apparatus of the class described,

the combination, With a rotatable shaft, of a pair of slip rings, one fixed to said shaft and the other loose thereon, and means whereby rotation of the shaft in one direction. connects said slip rings electrically and compels rotational movement of the frictionally held slip ring in company with the rings electrically.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

JAMES K. DELANO. 

